Entrance and exit

Reasons for rejection

Mandatory requirement

1. A wheelchair hoist fitted to a PSV that entered service as a PSV in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000 or a wheelchair hoist fitted to a PSV on or after 1 July 2000 does not have evidence of HVS certification, ie:

a) the hoist was fitted before the last CoF inspection and no LANDATA record has been entered, or

b) the hoist was fitted after the last CoF inspection and:

i. a valid LT400 form has not been presented, or

ii. the HVS certifier was not of the category, HVEC, HVIC or HVMC.

2. A wheelchair hoist fitted to a PSV that entered service as a PSV in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000 or a wheelchair hoist fitted to a PSV on or after 1 July 2000 does not have evidence that it is load-rated for 300kg or more.

Mandatory equipment

2. A heavy PSV is not fitted with a panel to prevent the feet of seated passengers from protruding into any nearby stairwell or ramp in such a way as to create a hazard.

3. A heavy PSV is not fitted with a guardrail or equivalent item both:

Condition and performance

4. An entry and exit step or ramp:

a) does not have a slip-resistant tread surface, or

b) does not provide safe entry or exit for occupants, eg:

i. the tread surface is slippery or has significantly deteriorated, or

ii. the structure or its attachment is loose or has significantly deteriorated.

5. A ramp or retractable step does not:

a) operate correctly, or

b) remain secure in its retracted position or when in use.

6. A panel fitted to prevent the feet of seated passengers from protruding into any nearby stairwell or ramp:

a) is insecure, or

b) has deteriorated so that it is likely to injure occupants.

7. A guardrail or equivalent item:

a) is insecure, or

b) has deteriorated so that it is likely to injure occupants.

Wheelchair hoists (Note 1)

8. A wheelchair hoist:

a) does not operate correctly, or

b) is not securely fitted to the vehicle, or

c) has a component which is missing, insecure or has significantly deteriorated, or

d) if power operated, does not incorporate a braking function that actuates when the control device is released, or

e) when powered down, does not have a device that prevents jacking of the vehicle, or

f) if side-mounted, does not have a means of warning the driver when the hoist is not stowed, or

g) has moving parts which touch the vehicle during the raising/lowering cycle, or

h) platform does not provide safe parking for the wheelchair, or

i) is not fitted with a constraint to prevent the wheelchair rolling off the platform, or

j) platform cannot be manually deployed and lowered.

Wheelchair ramps (Note 2)

9. On a vehicle fitted with a wheelchair ramp that entered passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, or on a PSV fitted with a wheelchair ramp on or after 1 July 2000, a wheelchair ramp and its fitting to a PSV:

a) does not, from the driving position, allow an unobstructed view (either directly or indirectly) of :

i. the exterior and interior of the doorway used for entry and exit, or

ii. the wheelchair parking position, or

iii. the ramp, unless the ramp is power operated and cannot be seen clearly by the driver, or

b) if it is power operated and cannot be clearly seen by the driver, does not stop or retract if it meets an obstruction before it is fully extended, or

c) does not have on the ramp side edges:

i. a safety ridge, or

ii. a conspicuous stripe at least 20 mm wide, or

d) does not have adequate illumination of the fully extended ramp to enable safe use during the hours of darkness, or

e) if it is power operated:

i. has no audible warning while the ramp is extending or retracting, or

ii. has no safety system to prevent the vehicle from moving off while the ramp is extended, or

iii. cannot be manually deployed and lowered in the event of a power failure.

10. A wheelchair ramp:

a) if side-mounted, has no device that warns the driver when the ramp is not stowed, or

b) has a moving part which touches the vehicle during the raising/lowering cycle.

Modification

11. An entry and exit step or ramp, or a wheelchair hoist or ramp, was modified since the last CoF inspection and there is no written confirmation that items affected by the modification comply with the requirements for entry certification.

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999
• AS 3856.1–1991
• AS 3856.2–1991
• AS/NZS 3856.1–1998
• AS/NZS 3856.2–1998.

Mandatory requirement

1. On a vehicle fitted with a wheelchair ramp that entered passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, or on a PSV fitted with a wheelchair ramp on or after 1 July 2000, a wheelchair ramp and its fitting to a PSV must be certified by an HVS certifier.

2. On a vehicle fitted with a wheelchair hoist that entered passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, or on a PSV fitted with a wheelchair hoist on or after 1 July 2000, a wheelchair hoist and its attachment to a PSV must be certified by an HVS certifier.

3. On a vehicle fitted with a wheelchair hoist that entered passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, or on a PSV fitted with a wheelchair  hoist on or after 1 July 2000, a wheelchair ramp must display a load rating of at least 300kg.

Mandatory equipment

3. A heavy PSV must be fitted with a panel to prevent the feet of seated passengers from protruding into any nearby stairwell or ramp in such a way as to create a hazard.

4. A heavy PSV must be fitted with a guardrail or equivalent item:

a) to the rearward side of any stairwell or ramp if passengers can stand or sit behind the stairwell or ramp, and

b) to the forward side of the stairwell or ramp if there is a rearward- or sideways-facing seat in front of it or if passengers can stand in front of it.

Condition and performance

5. The step-tread surfaces of entry and exit steps and ramps must be of a slip-resistant material.

6. Entry and exit steps and ramps must provide safe entry or exit for the occupants of a PSV.

7. External steps and ramps must be constructed so that they are not likely to injure any person.

Wheelchair hoists (Note 1)

8. The vehicle must be safe to be operated.

9. The components and materials must be fit for their purpose and within safe tolerance of their state when manufactured or modified.

Wheelchair ramps (Note 2)

10. On a vehicle fitted with a wheelchair ramp that entered passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, or on a PSV fitted with a wheelchair ramp on or after 1 July 2000:

a) there must be an unobstructed view from the driving position, either directly or indirectly of the:

i. exterior and interior of the doorway used for entry and exit, and

ii. wheelchair parking position, and

iii. ramp, except where the ramp is power operated and cannot be seen clearly by the driver, it must be fitted with a sensor so that the ramp stops or retracts if it meets an obstruction before it is fully extended, and

b) ramps must have a slip-resistant surface, and

c) ramps must have:

i. a safety ridge along the side edges, or

ii. a conspicuous stripe, at least 20mm wide, along the side edges, and

d) there must be adequate illumination of the fully extended ramp to enable safe use during the hours of darkness, and

e) power-operated ramps must:

i. be fitted with a device that gives audible warning while the ramp is extending or retracting, and

ii. have a safety system to prevent the vehicle from moving off while the ramp is extended, and

iii. be able to be operated in the event of power failure.

Modification

11. An entry and exit step or ramp, or a wheelchair hoist or ramp, fitted to or modified on a heavy PSV since it was last certified for operation in-service must meet the requirements for entry certification.